Are you smarter than a Harvard senior?

Last year, more than 14,000 college students took a "Civil Literacy" test sponsored by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. According to ISI, students didn't do so well. The average college freshman got about 50% of the questions right. Seniors did only a bit better, averging 54% on the quiz. Harvard seniors were the nation's best, averaging 69% on the survey. Can you do better? Take the quiz at the link below and find out! Did you do better than the average freshman? Better than the average senior? Better than the average Harvard student? Better than Harry the talking hand? (Harry got 58/60 right, as did Professor Jon Schaff). What do you think of the quiz? Is this stuff students should really know, or does it seem like trivial pursuit?

http://www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx

Dream of a Ridiculous Man

Suppose you were a glorious history professor, and you were going to include "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" in a lecture on 19th century "believers in progress." What would you say about the story? [If you like, you may imitate the style of one of your teachers/professors. I would be amused by, say, a Dias-style or Manhart-style lecture selection.]

The Communist Manifesto

In the "Communist Manifesto," Marx and Engels suggest some "wonderful improvements" for society. Cite a line from the Manifesto highlighting one of these improvements, i.e, something Marx and Engels want to see changed. Would the change they suggest be a good one? Why, or why not? Do you get a feeling of deja vu when you read through the Manifesto? Any issues raised similar to those in contemporary American politics?

Voltaire's "On Policy" (Extra Credit)

While Candide is the one Voltaire book everyone seems to read, it is not necessarily his best (or most interesting) work. Read through the selection from his Philosophical Dictionary on pp. 36-40 in your "Communist Manifesto and Other Revolutionary Writings" anthology. What do you find here that is particularly amusing, interesting, or important?

Role of Citizens in the Legislative Process

Want to know more about how state government works? One way is to attend the "Role of the Citizen" forum Wednesday evening (5:30) in the Centennial rooms upstairs in the student center. The forum is sponsored by the Chiesman Center for Democracy--an organization I know nothing about. State senator Jim Hundstad (D-Bath) will be there, and perhaps some other legislators. Should you decide to attend, please comment here on your reaction to the forum. Are you glad you went? What did you learn?

The French Encyclopedia

Reading the articles in Diderot's Encylopedia is one of the best ways to understand the French Enlightenment. It shows the attitudes of the philosophes toward everything from Islam to Women to Intolerance to History. While the online translation of the Encylopedia articles does not include the wonderful illustrations of the orginal, you will probably still find much of interest.

Browse to an article on a topic of interest to you. Comment on what you found particularly interesting in that article.

Traces Bus-eum

Visit the Traces Bus-eum (parked outside the library) . Share your thoughts on the Bus-eum or the presentation. Important? Enjoyable? Interesting? Exciting?

Student Activities Fair

Please visit the student organization displays set up in fromt of the Tech center Wednesday. What organizations/activities do you think you will most enjoy being involved with? How does one get involved in those organizations/activities?

Bonus: which organization offered the best "freebies"?

Welcome!

Comments, questions, or criticisms about the course or anything else history related? Post your thoughts here.